Greater Manchester, although often perceived as an urban conglomeration, actually has a wide and varied range of wildlife. The ten districts are characterised by different landscapes from the ancient wooded cloughs of Bolton, Bury and Stockport, the moorland expanses of Rochdale and Oldham and the vast reedbeds that characterise Wigan.

Much of Greater Manchester's heritage is derived from its past international importance as an industrial capital. As these post-industrial sites have fallen into disuse wildlife has colonised these areas and are now highly valued. Wigan Flashes is a direct result of past coal mining where subsidence has led to waterbodies collecting in the resulting hollows. This is now an important reedbed resource in Greater Manchester.

Although all our wildlife is highly valued, some of our biodiversity has been recognised as being internationally important, for example, the Rochdale Canal due to the presence of floating water-plantain and the "Manchester Mosses" which include Astley and Bedford Mosses which is a network of the last remaining peat bogs in the area.